Friday, January 6, 2017

Quick Reviews: Train to Busan (2016)

After so many crazy Japanese Films, it is nice to see South Korea do their best to tag in. How did they do?

In a Cold Open, this guy runs over a Deer past a Checkpoint. As he drives off, it jerks back to life...

Unfortunately, the Zombie Apocalypse has come to South Korea and it has made its way onto the titular Train.

Things aren't looking too great. They must have heard how Trump wants to give Nukes to all of Asia.

I can get topical if it is related- deal with it!

Can this Train full of random people make it to somewhere safe? Will those rude Zombies give people some privacy?

As the number of Humans dwindles and the number of Zombies rise, can they make it home?

Who will live? Who will become a Zombie?

To find out, watch the Film. You might as do it now before you are just part of the mob.

Good for you, South Korea. After Shaun of the Dead and 28 Days Later, England stepped up the Zombie Film game. Poor George A. Romero did his best to be topical, but...well, the less said about Diary of the Dead the better. In 2016, South Korea did their best to stake their claim. Train to Busan doesn't do anything especially-unique, but it does it all so well. Our 'Jerk' Character has a real backstory and does his best to get better throughout the Film. Our Hero Character has more depth than people in these Films tend to have. There is plenty of sadness here, but it is all earned fairly. There are no real 'cheap' moments here. At most, there are a few moments where the Zombies leap from just out of frame to kill people. The one instance is actually kind of funny because it gets one guy that way...and a second guy about 10 seconds later. How did he not see that coming? That minor gripe aside, the Film is quite good. Go see it already. As a bonus, it tells you what Age it is appropriate for...

Good Film that manages to be both bleak and hopeful. The depth of Character and Plot really make it all work.